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The Official List of the Order of Precedence of the Republic of the Philippines (May 2016)

The Order of Precedence is a sequential hierarchy of nominal importance of items. Precedence establishes the order or ranking of a country’s government, military, and, in some cases, civic leaders for diplomatic, ceremonial, and social events, at home and abroad. It is the priority of place based on superiority of rank. In protocol, the observance of precedence is important as it indicates basic recognition and respect for rank and seniority. Often it is the primary source of goodwill among diplomats and officials.

One’s position in an order of precedence is not necessarily an indication of functional importance, but rather an indication of ceremonial or historical relevance; for instance, it may dictate where dignitaries are seated at formal dinners.

A breach of the Order of Precedence is a diplomatic faux pas that could affect diplomatic relations of states and the conduct of official functions of dignitaries. It can greatly affect the political, economic and socio-cultural relations of the states involve. Before, the absence of precedence resulted to wars which lasted for centuries which claimed millions of lives and drained the national treasury of nations. To solve these problems, several conventions and conferences were held; these were the Congress of Vienna of 1815***, Concert of Europe***, Convention Regarding Diplomatic Officers of 1928 in Havana, Cuba, and the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 and Consular Relations of 1963.

The Republic of the Philippines’ Order of Precedence lists the ceremonial order for domestic and foreign government officials, military and civic leaders at diplomatic, ceremonial, and social events within the Philippines and abroad. The Order of Precedence is according to the defined rules of International Law, Conventions and Conferences where the Philippines is a party. In-charge of implementing this Order of Precedence is the Malacanang Chief of Protocol and the DFA Assistant Secretary for Protocol and State Visits. It is only used to indicate ceremonial protocol and has no legal standing; it does not reflect the presidential line of succession or the equal status of the branches of government under the Constitution.

***The Congress of Vienna of 1815 and the Concert of Europe do not specifically tackled the problem on the Order of Precedence, they were just merely included as part of the problems in the conduct of Diplomatic Relations.

Members of the Senate (23 Senators**) (according to seniority in length of service)

Senate President Pro-Tempore – Ralph G. Recto (12 Years)

Majority Floor Leader – Alan Peter S. Cayetano (9 Years)

Senate Minority Floor Leader – Juan Ponce M. Enrile (21 Years)

YEARS IN OFFICE BY MAY 2016

Gregorio B. Honasan, II – 18 years

Sergio R. Osmeña, III – 18 years

Vicente C. Sotto, III – 18 years

Miriam Defensor-Santiago – 16 years

Loren B. Legarda – 15 years

Pia S. Cayetano – 12 years

Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada – 12 years

Manuel M. Lapid – 12 years

Ramon B. Revilla, Jr. – 12 years

Francis G. Escudero – 9 years

Aquilino Martin DL. Pimentel, III – 9 years***

Antonio F. Trillanes, IV – 9 years

Teofisto Guingona, III – 6 years

Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. – 6 years

Juan Edgardo M. Angara – 3 years

Paolo Benigno Aquino, IV – 3 years

Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay – 3 years

Joseph Victor G. Ejercito – 3 years

Grace L. Poe – Llamanzares – 3 years

Cynthia A. Villar – 3 years

***Senator Pimentel, III is still accredited with 6 years in his first term since he officially won in the 2007 Midterm Elections. He was proclaimed by the Senate Electoral Tribunal on August 11, 2011. Originally, his seat was occupied by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri from Bukidnon until his resignation in 2011. There was a massive election fraud allegedly done by the camp of former President Gloria Macapagal – Arroyo which led to his resignation.

Foreign Ministers-Counsellors, Counsellors of Embassies, Consul General, Foreign Military Attachés with the rank of Major General or Rear Admiral, and Officers of equivalent rank of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

Judges of the Regional Trial Court (according to seniority)

First Secretaries of Foreign Embassies, Foreign Military Attachés with the rank of Brigadier General or Commodore & Officers of equivalent rank of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

Mayors of chartered cities

Directors/Commissioners of Bureau & Chief of Offices

Presidents, Chairmen & Managers of government corporations

Second Secretaries & Consuls of Foreign Embassies, Foreign Military Attachés with the rank of Colonel or Lieutenant Colonel, and Officers of equivalent rank of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

Third Secretaries & Vice-Consuls of Foreign Embassies, Foreign Military Attachés with the rank of Major or Captain & Officers of equivalent rank of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

Alfredo lim vacated his position in 2007 and in 2010 the vacated position is already filled with the election of 12 senators …..Noynoy vacated his position due to his election to the presidency his is due until 2013

Your blog on the Order of Precedence is really useful. I just hope you come up with an updated one post May 2013 national elections. Also would like to add that the head of the Climate Change Commission has a cabinet rank. CCC is under the Office of the President and is headed by Secretary Mary Ann Lucille L. Sering.